The NBA Playoffs that was...
A while ago, the Miami Heat just won the 2006 Larry O'Brien trophy, defeating the Dallas Mavericks in six games to become the NBA champions.
Great, and who would have really thought that they would be "it" after finishing the regular season below than what is expected of them? The Heat, which finished 52-30 in the season (not bad, but not good enough to be considered as HEAVY championship contenders), proved that the postseason is not the same as the regular season, exploiting that it's all a new beginning in the playoffs.
After looking very vulnerable against the 7th-seeded Chicago Bulls in the first-round, it is not very easy to fathom how they could ever defeat the top-seeded Detroit Pistons, or even go past the New Jersey Nets.
But they prevailed over these teams, and even over Western Conference champions Dallas Mavericks, which eliminated the defending champions, the San Antonio Spurs. After dropping the first two games of the series against the Mavs, critics are getting ready to publicize Miami's playoff "luck". But they won the next four games, thanks mostly to the unbelievable Wade, so 'Zo and the Glove is finally "complete" to retire, finally ending this nip-and-tuck classical 2006 NBA Playoffs.
Yes, this article is not about the Miami Heat, or even the Finals, it's about the 2006 NBA Playoffs --the best I've ever seen.
The postseason that was had been a great display of the new-and-improved league, which only adds more proof to the saying that "anything can happen in the NBA." That Playoffs was really amazing that you shouldn't blink for you not to miss a damn thing!
It had many great moments, the buzzer beaters, winning shots, great games, etc. Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers winning over the Phoenix Suns in Game 4 of their first-round match-up via Kobe's heroics, Kevin Martin winning it on a buzzer-beating lay-up for the Sacramento Kings to finally win one against the San Antonio Spurs, Jason Terry cementing a game in San Antonio with a three-point shot, among others. Actually, I can go on and on with this, only it will take me much time describing. That was only Round One, classic confrontations or what-have-you continued as the playoffs went deeper. Those were more moments in three playoff rounds as I can remember in comparison with combined playoff moments of the past few years.
It surprised us. A damn lot. And surprises intrigues people, so the interest level in the serieses of course raised, and as a fan of basketball and the NBA, I can feel that. There's one phrase that I can put here and then you can put any ideas that may follow it: "Who would have thought..." Yeah, are we ready that time that the Suns was on the brink of elimination? Did we initially know that King James can go pass the Wizards and give Pistons' fans a scare? Or that the Mavs will beat the Spurs? Or that the Heat will eliminate the Pistons? The Bulls having a chance versus the Heat? The Clippers having it easier than expected? In that playoffs, No. 8 or not, you can't really count them out!
Those few reasons, besides lacking of course descriptions and examples, only upped the drama in the NBA. It was more hyped, you can feel it, even if you're not there, and that made you salivating for more action, while not really knowing what to wait for. With playoffs more like that and better, we might see the Hawks fly away to the promised land.
I want to say more because no blog entry will ever stisfy the enjoyment I had watching the 2006 Playoffs, I may have expected more, or want more, but it was amazing. I hope and pray that it will only be better. See you next year! (er, next season...)
Great, and who would have really thought that they would be "it" after finishing the regular season below than what is expected of them? The Heat, which finished 52-30 in the season (not bad, but not good enough to be considered as HEAVY championship contenders), proved that the postseason is not the same as the regular season, exploiting that it's all a new beginning in the playoffs.
After looking very vulnerable against the 7th-seeded Chicago Bulls in the first-round, it is not very easy to fathom how they could ever defeat the top-seeded Detroit Pistons, or even go past the New Jersey Nets.
But they prevailed over these teams, and even over Western Conference champions Dallas Mavericks, which eliminated the defending champions, the San Antonio Spurs. After dropping the first two games of the series against the Mavs, critics are getting ready to publicize Miami's playoff "luck". But they won the next four games, thanks mostly to the unbelievable Wade, so 'Zo and the Glove is finally "complete" to retire, finally ending this nip-and-tuck classical 2006 NBA Playoffs.
Yes, this article is not about the Miami Heat, or even the Finals, it's about the 2006 NBA Playoffs --the best I've ever seen.
The postseason that was had been a great display of the new-and-improved league, which only adds more proof to the saying that "anything can happen in the NBA." That Playoffs was really amazing that you shouldn't blink for you not to miss a damn thing!
It had many great moments, the buzzer beaters, winning shots, great games, etc. Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers winning over the Phoenix Suns in Game 4 of their first-round match-up via Kobe's heroics, Kevin Martin winning it on a buzzer-beating lay-up for the Sacramento Kings to finally win one against the San Antonio Spurs, Jason Terry cementing a game in San Antonio with a three-point shot, among others. Actually, I can go on and on with this, only it will take me much time describing. That was only Round One, classic confrontations or what-have-you continued as the playoffs went deeper. Those were more moments in three playoff rounds as I can remember in comparison with combined playoff moments of the past few years.
It surprised us. A damn lot. And surprises intrigues people, so the interest level in the serieses of course raised, and as a fan of basketball and the NBA, I can feel that. There's one phrase that I can put here and then you can put any ideas that may follow it: "Who would have thought..." Yeah, are we ready that time that the Suns was on the brink of elimination? Did we initially know that King James can go pass the Wizards and give Pistons' fans a scare? Or that the Mavs will beat the Spurs? Or that the Heat will eliminate the Pistons? The Bulls having a chance versus the Heat? The Clippers having it easier than expected? In that playoffs, No. 8 or not, you can't really count them out!
Those few reasons, besides lacking of course descriptions and examples, only upped the drama in the NBA. It was more hyped, you can feel it, even if you're not there, and that made you salivating for more action, while not really knowing what to wait for. With playoffs more like that and better, we might see the Hawks fly away to the promised land.
I want to say more because no blog entry will ever stisfy the enjoyment I had watching the 2006 Playoffs, I may have expected more, or want more, but it was amazing. I hope and pray that it will only be better. See you next year! (er, next season...)
posted by Fj-3 @ 3:23 AM
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